Project ACME A1

An American-Twin-Jet Triphibian

In the fifties, Between 1954 and 1958, Air Craft Marine Engineering (ACME) Company of Van Nuys, California, had designed an eight-scat twin-jet triphibious aircraft suitable for executive transport and utility uses. A mock-up had been completed and the prototype Model A-1 was expected to fly in 1958.

The aircraft should be able to operate from land, water or snow through the use of a sponson/landing gear combination with shock-absorbing liquid springs. Drag-producing wing-tip floats were not required with these sponsons, and a retractable step fairing further reduces hull-drag losses. A complete boundary-layersystem should provide STOL characteristics permitting the A-l to be flown from unprepared fields at 45 mph besides cutting down water take-off runs. A retractable outboard motor, remotely started and steered, was located in the tailcone, and should enable the pilot to cut the jet engines after landing and taxi the aircraft through a harbour to a dock or mooring.